OUR EXPERTS

Our staff are experts in their fields. We are National Championship winning athletes and coaches. We are valedictorians, professional teachers and psychologists, and test takers with scores in the top 1%. We have been through the recruiting process across multiple divisions and sports. We understand the process and how unique it is to every individual.

We have life skills beyond the classroom and athletic field. Our careers have given us a breadth of experience second to none. We recognize that what you are taught in school isn’t the only knowledge you need to get through life. Employers, coaches, and colleges are looking for life skills that we can teach. We pride ourselves on teaching self-awareness and balance to our parents and athletes. We are working to develop student-athletes who will flourish in college because their actions on and off the field reflect their ethical and community centric leadership skills. These traits, which coaches believe are missing in today’s specialized athletes, will set you apart from your peers.

MIKE NEWCOMER

FOUNDER

Mike earned his Ph.D. in theoretical biophysics from Yale in the summer of 2010. Before that, Mike was the valedictorian at Georgetown College, where he majored in chemistry and biology and was a member of the varsity soccer and cross country teams. His experiences as an athlete and working professional have taught him what it takes to succeed both on and off the field. As an athlete, he learned the value of hard-work, dedication and leadership. During his time as a tutor, Mike learned what it takes to be a world-class educator, to provide individuals with the tools they need to achieve success in every aspect of their lives.

PAM SAUNDERS

DIRECTOR

Pam comes to Bulldog Coaches with thirteen years of experience in college coaching across multiple divisions. As a college athlete she won two National Championships at Trinity College. She began her coaching career as the Head Squash Coach at Mount Holyoke College where she took the team from #24 in the nation to #11 in just four years, while completing a Master’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science at Smith College. Most recently, she was the Associate Head Squash Coach for Men’s and Women’s Squash at Yale for nine years. In her tenure, Yale won two National Championships and five Ivy League Titles. As a national championship coach, having experience across multiple divisions, Pam understands the rules and knows what elite caliber coaches are looking for from their student-athletes. Not only does she understand college sports from her time playing, but she has also spent her entire career in them as well.

JAS JERNAILL

ACADEMIC DIRECTOR

As the Academic Director of Bulldog Coaches, Jas oversees the academic, test-prep, and application building side of our operations. Having graduated with a degree in Behavioral Cognitive Science from Yale University, Jas has a passion for understanding and assisting others in a variety of fashions. He has worked with children on the autism spectrum through the Hawaii Department of Education, has tutored extensively in expressive writing and music, and has most recently brought standardized testing classes to a number of Connecticut public schools. A life-long athlete, Jas swam competitively through his childhood and into college, representing both his home state of Hawaii and Yale University on multiple championship stages. An enthusiast of anything ocean-related, Jas enjoys fishing, surfing, and swimming during his downtime.

AMY GROSS

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY DIRECTOR

Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Yale University and holds two master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in Counseling and Mental Health Services and Professional Counseling and Psychology. She is a three-time National Championship winner in squash at Yale University and former Assistant Coach at University of Pennsylvania, where the team consistently places in the top three in the nation. She currently runs Pillars4Performance and will consult for Bulldog Tutors.
Her philosophy is that people are a work in progress who can benefit from using coaching as a means to refine strengths and identify and improve areas of growth that are critical for successful performance. She guides people to be solution focused and learn the relationship between execution and peak performance. This proactive approach enables people to cultivate a mentality that leads to long-lasting change and growth.
Amy has a diverse professional background with experience in business, academic, athletic, and mental health settings. She has spent 15+ years coaching and competing as an elite athlete and brings a results-driven and strengths-based approach to every client interaction.

CHRIS FEE

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING DIRECTOR

Chris is the Head Strength and Conditioning coach at Sacred Heart University. He was an assistant strength coach at Yale University before moving to Morehead State to be their Head Coach. He holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Science. In his nine years of experience he has worked with a variety of teams from fencing to football. His record speaks for itself: 1 National Championship squash team, 4 Ivy League Championship squash teams, 2 OVC Championships in Soccer and Volleyball, 6 NEC Championships in Baseball, Indoor Track and Field and Outdoor Track and Field, and 16 National Strength and Conditioning All-Americans. He has coached youth athletes and helped prepare college athletes for professional careers. His breadth of knowledge means he can work with any athlete at any level and get improvements.

ASHLEY BERNHARD

LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR

Ashley Bernhard is a woman who has done it all. She recently founded Haven Hill to advise organizations on creating initiatives focusing on equality, leadership and empowerment. Ashley considers herself an “equalist.” She specializes in working with both men and women to promote gender equality inspiring the next generation of leaders. She will head our leadership division which is working on a certification with the world’s best leadership program through a prestigious university.

She has three children who grew up as competitive squash players. Two are in college and one is in private high school. Thus, she understands the recruiting process for college and prep schools as a parent and all the pressures on today’s youth. Her wisdom is sought out by many. With her strong background in Marketing/PR/Event Planning, Ashley focuses on identifying strategic opportunities and developing programs that bring stakeholders together to create solutions. Ashley has been a key leader in professional squash promoting equal opportunities and equal prize money for women. She founded the Tournament of Champions Women’s Squash Leadership Program, an annual event dedicated to celebrating the impact of female athletes and women who lead on and off the court. She currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Professional Squash Association, the global governing body for the sport.